Fair-lead



Oct. 18, 1938.

D. J. SHELTON ET AL 33, 6

FAIR-LEAD Filed June 4, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l PEN 51 //v VEN TUHS. 11d.SHELTUN, &-.JA 005 Y b 5. 5. HEFFELF/NEEEL 'fhE/F ATTUENEY.

Oct. 18, 1938. D J. SHELTON ET AL 2,133,406

FAIR-LEAD Filed June 4, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5- L/A 00 5 Y,

5. 5 HEFFEL F/A/saa A k/M Oct. 18, 1938. D. J. SHELTON ET AL FAIR-LEAD 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 4,\ 1937 0 or: Q Q

.D-l-LEHELTUN, EJJADUBX, ELHEFFELF/NEEE.

H150 ATTUFNEK Oct. 18, 1938. D. J. SHELTON ETAL FAIR-LEAD Filed June 4,1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I in. I

B -vl mm M5 5 N MN H 0 5M T MT, my A 2 M Ju Patented Oct. 18, 1938UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FAIR-LEAD a corporation of Ohio ApplicationJune 4, 1937, Serial'No. 146,374

33 Claims.

This invention relates to a fairlead for a cable and is designedprimarily for use in connection with drag line excavators.

As is well known, in a drag line excavator the excavating element orscoop is supported by a hoisting cable from the point of the boom andoperates on the material to be excavated at a point spaced a substantialdistance from the operating mechanism of the machine, a drag cableconnecting the scoop with the operating mechanism on the platform of themachine and serving to move the open end of the scoop toward the machinein the excavating operation. The hoisting. cable and the drag cable arecontrolled in unison to cause the scoop to be filled, hoisted anddumped. It is customary to provide such a machine withv afairlead, orcable guide, to control the position of the cable with relation to theboom and other parts of the mechanism and this fairlead is usuallymounted on or adjacent to the platform of the machine. When the surfaceof the material on which the scoop is operating is below or notsubstantially higher than the platform this arrangement of the fairleadis satisfactory but when the scoop is operating on a surfacesubstantially higher than. the platform the downward pull of the dragcable produces objectionable results. For example, in surface mining ofcoal or mineral it is customary to remove overburden by means of a largecapacity power operated shovel, of the type commonly known as astripping shovel, but it is impractical to remove the overburden to adepth of more than approximately forty-five feet by such a strippingshovel. In many cases the size of the vein of coal is sufficient tojustify the removal of a greater mass of overburden, say from sixty toseventy feet in depth. Under such circumstances a drag line excavatormay be employed to remove the excess overburden, that is, that part ofthe overburden which is above the operating limit of the strippingshovel, the latter resting upon the floor of the cut, that is, the uppersurface of the vein of coal. In a large capacity drag line excavator theplatform may be about twenty feet above the floor of the cut and whenthe fairlead is at the level of the platform it will be obvious that thedrag cable will extend upwardly to the scoop at a sharp angle and thedownward pull of this cable on the front end of the scoop tilts the sameforwardly. As a result it is often diflicult and sometimes impos sibleto completely fill the scoop due to the tendency of the loosenedmaterial to fall away from the scoop by gravity. Further, when the scooperated on a level below the level of the platform, 10'

due to the tendency of the drag cable to elevate the front end of thescoop. Before each advance movement of the excavator it is usuallynecessary to clean up the floor of the out, by removing such material asmay have accumulated thereon, 15 and for the reasons given this cannotbe satisfactorily accomplished with the fairlead at a high elevation.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a fairlead whichcan be quickly and 20 easily adjusted from one elevation to another, toaccommodate it to the character of the work to be performed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a fairlead withpower operated adjusting 25" mechanism which can be controlled from theplatform of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a fairlead withmeans for maintaining the same at all times in proper position withrelation 30 to that portion of the cable which lies between the fairleadand the drum which operates the cable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fairlead with meansfor controlling a two cable 35 drag line and maintaining the cables inproper relativepositions during their operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a fairlead withmeans for adjustably mounting. the same on the boom of the exca- 40vator.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a fairlead withmeans for mounting the same on the platform of the machine or theexcavator. 45,

Other objects of the invention may appear as the mechanism is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a drag lineexcavator showing the fairlead mounted on the boom thereof; Fig. 2 is 50a plan view of that portion of the boom on which the fairlead ismounted; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the fairlead, partly broken away; Fig. 5is 'a sideelevation of the fairlead, partly 55 broken away; Fig. 6 is aplan View of the fairlead, partly broken away; Fig. 7 is a plan view ofa two cable fairlead; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the two cablefairlead; Fig. 9 is an edge view of the horizontal guide sheaves; Fig.10 is a plan View of a fairlead having a single pair of guide sheaves,partly broken away; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the fairlead of Fig. 10;Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the fairlead of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is aside elevation of a portion of an excavator showing the fairleadadjustably mounted on the platform; and Fig. 14 is a plan View of thefairlead of Fig. 13, partly broken away.

In these drawings we have illustrated the invention as applied to a dragline excavator but it will be understood that the invention may takevarious forms and may be applied to machines of various kinds whichinvolve a similar problem.

The drag line excavator shown in Fig. 1 is of a well known type andcomprises the usual portable base 20 on which is mounted a revolvingplatform 2| which carries the operating mecha nism and the gantry 22. Aboom extends upwardly and forwardly from the platform and is normallysupported at a fixed inclination. So far as the present invention isconcerned the boom may be of any suitable character. It is here shown aswhat is known as a stiff leg boom, the lower portion 23 of the boombeing mounted at its lower end on the platform and being rigidlyconnected at its upper end with a gantry 22 by means of a strut 24. Theouter portion or leg 25 is pivotally mounted on the leg 23 and issupported at a fixed inclination by the usual supporting cable 25. Theexcavating element 2?, herein referred to as a scoop, is supported fromthe point of the boom by a cable 28 which is connected with a drum 29 onthe platform. Operative or excavating movement is imparted to the scoopby a drag cable 30 which is connected with the front end of the scoop bya bridle 3| and is wound upon a drum 32 on the platform. The cableusually extends through the boom, and

a fairlead, indicated by the reference numeral 33, is provided to guidethe cable through the boom. To facilitate the operation of the scoop atdifferent levels with relation to the platform of the machine thefairlead is of such a character that it may be supported at differentlevels with relation to the platform, and operating mechanism isprovided for shifting it from one position to another. The fairlead maybe mounted on any suitable part of the machine but, as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, it is mounted on the lower portion of the boom. This portion ofthe boom comprises side members 34 rigidly connected one to the otherand spaced apart for at least a portion of their length to providebetween them a slot or elongate opening and the fairlead is mounted inthis slot for adjustment lengthwise thereof. For this purpose the boomis provided with a track extending lengthwise thereof and adapted tomovably support the fairlead. As here shown, this track comprises twopairs of side rails 35 and 36 rigidly secured to the respective sidemembers of the boom. In the present construction each side railcomprises two opposed channel members, 31, spaced apart to form betweenthem guideways for guide members cartried by the fairlead.

The fairlead comprises a frame 38 on which are mounted cable guides, thelatter comprising a pair of opposed sheaves 39 arranged in the same 3vertical plane and having grooved peripheries to erly alined with thecable.

receive the cable between them, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Suitablemeans are provided for guiding the cable into the space between thesevertical sheaves and preventing the same from being laterally displacedwith relation thereto. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, this meanscomprises a pair of opposed sheaves 40 arranged in a substantiallyhorizontal plane and supported by a rearward extension 4| of the frame38, the space between the horizontal sheaves being in line with thespace between the vertical sheaves. The plane of the horizontal sheaves40 intersects and is preferably at right angles to the plane of thevertical sheaves 39 and is also preferably at right angles to a verticalplane extending through the axes of the vertical sheaves. Preferably theframe extension 4| is provided with a flared opening 42 to properlyposition the cable with relation to the horizontal sheaves and to permitthe same to flex laterally with relation to the sheaves as the cabletravels from one end'of its drum to the other.

The guide members which support the frame 38 of the fairlead on the siderails of the track are preferably in the form of rollers 43 mounted inthe channel members of the respective side rails. The operatingmechanism for shifting the frame 38 lengthwise of the track preferablycomprises a toothed rack associated with the track and a pinion carriedby the frame and meshing with that rack. In the present construction oneof the guide rollers, 44, is provided with teeth and constitutes apinion which meshes with a rack 45 carried by and arranged within one ofthe channel members of the corresponding side rail 35. The pinion 44 isrigidly secured to a shaft 46 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings inthe frame 38 and having rigidly secured thereto a worm wheel 41 whichmeshes with a worm 48 secured to a shaft 49 which is connected with anddriven by an electric motor 50 mounted on the frame 38. Thus thefairlead and its operating mechanism constitutes a single unit whichmoves as a whole along the track. The motor 50 is connected with asuitable circuit controlling device mounted on the platform of themachine which may be of any suitable character and is not here shown.However, it is desirable that means should be provided for automaticallyinterrupting the operation of the motor before the fairlead has movedfar enough in either direction to contact with the boom structure, thuspossibly injuring the mechanism. To this end I have mounted on the boom,near each end of the slot therein, switches 5| having switch actuatingmembersv 52 projecting into the path of the frame of the fairlead and soarranged that they will be engaged by the frame and the motor circuitopened before the fairlead is contacted with the boom. 1

It will be noted that as the fairlead is moved from one position to theother the angle at which the inner portion of the drag cable extendsfrom its drum 32 to the fairlead changes and in order to maintain thehorizontal sheaves of the fairlead in proper relation to this innerportion of the cable the horizontal sheaves are mounted for tiltingmovement so that they may be prop- In the present instance the fairleadas a whole is tilted to properly position the horizontal sheaves, and inthe particular arrangement here shown this is accomplished automaticallyby the arrangement of the side rails of the track. As shown in Fig. 3,the rails of each pair of side rails converge downwardly so thatv as thefairlead is moved .1 across a vertical position to a position in whichit is. slightly inclined rearwardly and upwardly, as shown in dottedlines at the end of Fig. 3, thus tilting the frame as a whole andadjusting the. horizontal sheaves to such an inclination as will placethem in proper relation to the inner portion of. the drag cable.v

The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood and it will beapparent that the fairlead may be quickly and easily shifted from oneelevation to another, under the control of the operator on the platform,to accommodate the same to the particular height of the material onwhich the scoop is to operate and further, it

will be apparent that the fairlead will be auto- ,of verticalguide-rollers 53 rotatably mounted on provided with a drag linecomprising two parallel cables which operate in unison and in Figs. 7, 8and 9 there is shown a form of fairlead adapted to guide the two cablesand to maintain the same in their properly spaced relation. The frame 55of this fairlead is similar to that above described and it is mounted onand moved along the track in the same manner.- The cable guiding sheavescomprise a set of vertical guide sheaves and a set of horizontal guidesheaves and each set of sheaves comprises two pairs of sheaves", thesheaves of each pair being of different diameters. As shown in thedrawings the set of horizontal sheaves include one pair comprising alarge sheave 56 and a relatively small sheave 51 and a second paircomprising a large sheave 58 and a relatively small sheave 59. The largesheave of each pair is arranged in the same plane with and cooperateswith the small sheave of the other pair so that the guide openingsbetween the cooperating sheaves will be spaced laterally one from theother, as shown at 60, in Fig. 9. The set of vertical sheaves comprisesone pair having a large sheave 6| and a relatively small sheave 62 and asecond pair having: a large sheave 63 and a relatively small sheave 64,the small sheave of each pair being in the same plane with andcooperating with the large sheave of the other pair, thus locating theguide openings between the vertical sheaves in positions to receive thecables from the guide openings between the corresponding horizontalsheaves. At the front end of the frame 55 there are mounted threevertical rollers 65 spaced one from the other to receive between themthe cables from. the respective pairs of vertical sheaves and to holdthose cables against lateral displacement with relation to said sheaves,while permitting the cables to flex freely in vertical planes.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12, there is shown a fairlead similar to that shownin Figs. 4, 5 and 6, but having different means for guiding the cable tothe vertical sheaves. As there shown, the frame 66 and vertical sheaves61 are substantially similar to those shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and theframe is supported and moved from one position to another in the samemanner. In the rear of the vertical shafts the horizontal sheaves havebeen omitted and in lieu thereof there are provided two parallel rollers68 of relatively large diameter which are mounted at their upper andlower ends in brackets 69 extending rearwardly from the frame 66. Theserollers rotateabout parallel vertical axes and the space between them isin line with the space between the vertical sheaves 61. Thus as theinner portion of the cable travels from one end of its drum to the otherend thereof the cable may flex about these vertical rollers or drums butwill be held against lateral displacement with relation to the verticalsheaves of the fairlead. As the fairlead is adjusted from one elevationto the other the cable will move vertically between the rollers 68, thuspermitting it to flex in a vertical plane and making unnecessary thetilting of the fairlead.

As has been heretofore stated, the fairlead may be adjustably mounted onany suitable part of the machine and in Figs. 13 and 14 we have shown anarrangement in which the guide or track for the fairlead is mounteddirectly upon the revolving platform of the excavator. As shown in thesefigures the fairlead is mounted on an upright track l0 mounted at itslower end on the platform 2|, preferably between the lower parts of theboom, and rigidly secured at its upper end to brackets H carried by thegantry 22. This track is curved forwardly about an axis adjacent thepoint of contact of the cable 30 with the drum 32. It comprises two siderails, as shown in Fig. 14, and the fairlead is supported on these siderails with the cable guiding sheaves arranged between the same. Thesesheaves are mounted on a frame 12 in a manner substantially similar tothat shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. This frame is provided on each sidethereof with two guide members 73 and 14 arranged to engage theforwardly curved surfaces of the side rails of the track. The frame isalso provided on each side thereof with two other guide members, orrollers, 15 to engage the rear or inner curved surfaces of the siderails. Preferably each track rail is provided on its forward surfacewith a toothed rack '36 and the guide members 14' are in the form ofpinions which mesh with the respective racks and are driven by a motor11 in the manner above described. Thus the fairlead can be moved alongthe track to any selected position thereon and, due to the curvature ofthe track, the guide sheaves will be in substantial alinement with thepoint of contact of the cable with the drum in all positions of thefairlead, thereby avoiding the necessity of tilting or otherwiseadjusting the fairlead to maintain the sheaves in proper relation to thecable.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our inventionwe wish it iobe understood that We do not desire to be liniited to thedetails thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilledin the art.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine comprising an operating mechanism, a device to beoperated, means carried by said machine for movably supporting saiddevice at a point remote from and at a higher elevation than saidoperating mechanism, an operating cable connecting said device with saidoperating mechanism, a frame supported on said machine for movement todifferent elevations with relation to the point of support for saiddevice, opposed guides carried by said frame and arranged to receivesaid cable between them, and actuating means carried by said frame formoving the same to different elevations.

2. In a machine comprising an operating mechanism, a device to beoperated, means carried by said machine for movably supporting saiddevice at a point remote from and at a higher elevation than saidoperating mechanism, an operating cable connecting said device with saidoperating mechanism, a fairlead for said cable including a frame, atrack on which said frame is mounted for movement to differentelevations with relation to the point of support for said device, andmeans for moving said frame to and for retaining the same in adjustedpositions on said track.

3. In a machine comprising an operating mech anism, a device to beoperated, means carried by said machine for movably supporting saiddevice at a point remote from and at a higher elevation than saidoperating mechanism, an operating cable connecting said device with saidoperating mechanism, a fairlead for said cable including a frame, atrack on which said frame is mounted for movement to differentelevations with relation to the point of support for said device, amotor mounted on said frame, and means actuated by said motor for movingsaid frame along said track.

4. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operated ata point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable for connectingsaid part with said operating mechanism, a fairlead for said cableincluding a frame, a track on which said frame is movably mounted, andadjusting mechanism for moving said frame along said track and forautomatically locking the same in its adjusted position thereon.

5. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operated ata point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable for connectingsaid part with said operating mechanism, a fairlead interposed betweensaid operating mechanism and said part and comprising a frame and guideelements carried thereby, means for supporting said frame at differentelevations with relation to said machine, and means for adjusting saidfairlead to locate said guide elements in proper relation to said cableat all elevations of said frame.

6. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operated ata point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable for connectingsaid part with said operating mechanism, a fairlead interposed betweensaid operating mechanism and said part and comprising a frame and guideelements carried thereby, a supporting structure on which said frame ismounted for bodily movement, and means for moving said frame along saidstructure, said supporting structure and said frame having cooperatingparts for adjusting said frame about an axis transverse to its line ofmovement to properly locate said guide element with relation to saidcable.

'7. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operatedat a point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable forconnecting said part with said operating mechanism, a fairleadinterposed between said operating mechanism and said part and comprisinga frame and guide elements carried thereby, a track on which said frameis movably mounted, and means for moving said frame along said track,said track being arranged to impart tilting movement to said frame asthe latter moves along said track to maintain said guide elements inproper relation to said cable.

8. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operated ata point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable for connectingsaid part with said operating mechanism, a fairlead interposed betweensaid operating mechanism and said part and comprising a frame and guideelements carried thereby, a track on which said frame is movablymounted, a toothed element associated with said track and extendinglengthwise thereof, a pinion carried by said frame and meshing with saidtoothed element, a motor mounted on said frame, and means driven by saidmotor for actuating said pinion.

9. In a machine comprising operating mecha nism, a part to be operatedat a point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable forconnecting said part with said operating mechanism, a fairleadinterposed between said operating mechanism and said part and comprisinga frame and guide elements carried thereby, a track comprising siderails each having channel members spaced one from the other, a toothedrack associated with one of said rails, a frame having at each sidethereof rollers mounted in the channel members of the respective siderails, one of said rollers having teeth meshing with said rack, andmeans carried by said frame for rotating'said toothed roller.

10. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operatedat a point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable forconnecting said part with said operating mechanism, a fairleadinterposed between said operating mechanismand said part and comprisinga frame and guide elements carried thereby, a track comprising twolaterally spaced pairs of side rails, the rails of each pair beingspaced one from the other, said frame having at each side thereof guidemembers movably supported on the respective side rails, and meanscarried by said frame for moving the same lengthwise of said track, theside rails of each pair converging towardone end i of said track tocause said frame to tilt as it moves lengthwise of said track.

11. In a machine comprising operating mecha nism, a part to be operatedat a point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable forconnecting said part with said operating mechanism, an upwardlyextending track arranged between said operating mechanism and said partand including two pairs of side rails, the rails of eachv pairbeingspaced one from the other, a toothed rack associated with one of saidrails, a frame having at each side thereof two guide members mounted onthe respective side rails, one of said guide members comprisinga pinionmeshing with.

an .upwardly extending track arranged between said operating mechanismand said part and including laterally spaced side rails, a frame havingguide members movably mounted on said side rails, cable guiding sheavescarried by said frame, a motor mounted on said frame, means actuated bysaid'motor for moving said frame lengthwise of said track, and circuitcontrolling devices for said motor arranged near the respective ends ofsaid track and each including apart to be engaged by from said operatingmechanism, and a cable for connecting saidpart with said operatingmechanism,'a fairlead for said cable including a frame,

a track on which said frame is movably mounted,

driving mechanism for moving said frame along said track, and meanscontrolled by said frame for interrupting the operation of said drivingmechanism when said frame is near the limit of its movement on saidtrack.

14. In a drag line excavator comprising an inclined boom, a scoop, acable for movably supporting said scoop from said boom at a point remotefro'mthe foot thereof, a drag cable for said scoop, and a drum foroperating said drag cable, a frame mounted near the foot of said boomfor movement with relation thereto, opposed guides carried by said frameand arranged to receive said drag cable between them, and operable meanscarried by said frame for moving the same to different elevations withrelation to said boom.

15. In a drag line excavator comprising an inclined boom, a scoop, acable for movably supporting said scoop from said boom at a point remotefrom the=foot thereof, a drag cable for said scoop, and a drum foroperating said drag cable,

va frame movably mounted on said boom near the foot thereof, opposedguides carried by said frame and arranged to receive said drag cablebetween them, said frame and said boom having parts cooperating to movesaid frame lengthwise of said boom, and operating mechanism carried bysaid frame and having driving connection with one of said parts.

16. In a drag line excavator comprising an inclined boom, a scoop, meansfor movably supporting said scoop from said boom, a drag cable for saidscoop, and a drum for operating said drag cable, said boom having alongitudinal slot, longitudinal guide members arranged near therespective sides of said slot, a frame movably mounted on said guidemembers, guides for said drag cable carried by said frame, and means formoving said frame on said guide members.

17. In a drag line excavator comprising an inclined boom, a scoop, meansfor movably supfor said scoop, and a drum for operating said drag cable,said boom having a longitudinal slot, longitudinal guide membersarranged near the respective sides of said slot, a frame movably mountedon said guide members, guides for said drag cable carried by said frame,and means for moving said frame on said guide members and for lockingthe same in adjusted positions thereon.

18. In a drag line excavator comprising an inclined boom, a scoop, meansfor movably supporting said scoop from said boom, a drag cable for saidscoop, and a drum for operating said drag cable, said boom having alongitudinal slot, longitudinal guide members arranged near therespective sides of said slot, a frame movably mounted on said guidemembers, guides for said drag cable carried by said frame, and means formoving said frame on said guide. members, said guide members beingarranged to tilt said frame with relation to said boom to aline saidcable guides with said cable in different adjusted positions of saidframe.

19. In a machine comprising a part to be operated, means for operatingsaid part including two parallel cables connected therewith, and a drumon which said cables are wound, a fairlead comprising two pairs of cableguiding sheaves arranged in substantially vertical planes, and two pairsof cable guiding sheaves arranged in planes intersecting the planes ofsaid vertical sheaves,

the sheaves of each of the last mentioned pairs being of differentdiameter and the small sheave of each of said pairs being in the planeof the larger sheave of the other of said pairs.

20. In a machine comprising a part to be operated, means for operatingsaid part including" two parallel cables connected therewith, and a drumon which said cables are wound, a fairlead comprising two pairs of cableguiding sheaves arranged in substantially vertical planes, and two pairsof cable guiding sheaves arranged in planes intersecting the planes ofsaid vertical sheaves, the sheaves of each of the last mentioned pairsbeing of different diameters and the small sheave of each of said pairsbeing in the plane of the larger sheave of the other of said pairs, andmeans for adjusting said fairlead to different elevations with relationto said drum.

21. In a machine comprising a part to he operated, means for operatingsaid part including two parallel cables connected therewith, and a drumon which said cables are wound, a fairlead comprising two pairs of cableguiding sheaves arranged in substantially vertical planes. and two pairsof cable guiding sheaves arranged in planes intersecting the planes ofsaid vertical sheaves, the sheaves of each of the last mentioned pairsbeing of different diameters and the small sheave of each of said pairsbeing in the plane of the larger sheave of the other of said pairs,means for adjusting said fairlead to different elevations with relationto said drum. and means for tilting the last mentioned pairs of sheavesto maintain the same in proper relation to said cables.

'22. In a machine comprising a part to be operated, means for operatingsaid part including in planes intersecting the planes of the sheaves ofthe other set, each set including two pairs of sheaves, the sheaves ofeach pair being of different diameters and the smaller sheave of eachpair being in the same plane with the larger sheave of the other pair ofthat set.

23. In a machine comprising a part to be operated, means for operatingsaid part including two parallel cables connected therewith, and a drumon which said cables are wound, a fairlead for said cables comprisingtwo sets of cable" guiding sheaves, the sheaves of one set beingarranged in planes intersecting the planes of the sheaves of the otherset, each set including two pairs of sheaves, the sheaves of each pairbeing of different diameters and the smaller sheave of each pair beingin the same plane with the larger sheave of the other pair of that set,a frame for supporting said sheaves in fixed relation one to the otherand a track along which said frame may be moved to locate said sheavesin different positions in relation to said drum.

24. In a machine comprising a part to be operated, means for operatingsaid part including two parallel cables connected therewith, and a drumon which said cables are wound, a fairlead for said cables comprisingtwo sets of cable guiding sheaves, the sheaves of one set being arrangedin planes intersecting the planes of the sheaves of the other set, eachset including two pairs of sheaves, the sheaves of each pair being ofdifferent diameters and the smaller sheave of each pair being in thesame plane with the larger sheave of the other pair of that set, a framefor supporting said sheaves in fixed relation one to the other and atrack along which said frame may be moved to locate said sheaves indifferent positions in relation to said drum, and means for tilting saidframe with relation to said frame.

25. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operatedat a point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cab-1e forconnecting said part with said operating mechanism, a fairleadinterposed between said operating mechanism and said part to be operatedand including a pair of opposed sheaves to receive said cable betweenthem, means for adjusting said fairlead to different vertical positionswith relation to said machine, and a pair of substantially cylindricalelongate rollers mounted in line with said sheaves for adjustmenttherewith and each rotatable about an axis transverse to the axes ofsaid sheaves, said rollers serving to prevent the lateral displacementof the cable with relation to said sheave and to permit said cable toflex in the plane of said sheaves.

26. Ina machine comprising operating mechanism, a part to be operated ata point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable for connectingsaid part with said operating mechanism, a fairlead interposed betweensaid operating mechanism and said part to'be operated and including aframe and a pair of opposed sheaves mounted 'on said frame to receivesaid cable between them, means for adjusting said frame to differentpositions with relation to said operating mechanism, and a pair ofrollers mounted on said frame to the rear of said sheaves on axessubstantially parallel with the plane of said sheaves, and serving toguide said cable to said sheaves and to permit the same to flex in theplane of said sheaves.

27- In a machine comprising a platform, a boom mounted on said platform,a device to be operated, means for movably supporting said device fromsaid boom at a point remote from the foot thereof, a cable for actuatingsaid device, operat ing mechanism for said cable mounted on saidplatform, an upwardly extending track supported wholly by said platform,a fairlead mounted on said track for movement thereon toward and fromsaid boom, and means for adjusting said fairlead on said track and forsecuring the same in adjusted. positions thereon.

28- In a machine comprising a platform, a cable, operating mechanism forsaid cable mounted on said platform, an upwardly extending tracksupported wholly by said platform, a fairlead movably mounted on saidtrack for adjustment lengthwise thereof and including a pair of cableguiding sheaves rotatable about axes extending lengthwise of said track,and means for adjusting said fairlead on said track, said track being soshaped that said sheaves will be supported in proper relation to saidcable in all positions of said fairlead on said track.

29. In a machine comprising a platform, a gantry, a drum mounted on saidplatform, and a cable wound on said drum and extending forwardlytherefrom, a track supported at one end on said platform and at itsother end'by said gantry and curved forwardly about an axis adjacent thepoint of cont-act of said cable with said drum, a fairlead mounted onsaid track, and means carried by and movable with said fairlead foractuating the same.

30. In a machine comprising a platform, a gantry and a drum mounted onsaid platform, and a cable wound on said drum and extending forwardlytherefrom, a track supported at one end on said platform and at itsother end by said gantry and curved forwardly about an axis adjacent thepoint of contact of said cable with said drum, a fairlead comprising aframe and cable guiding sheaves carried by said frame, and guide membersarranged to engage the opposite edges of said track to movably supportsaid frame thereon, a motor carried by said frame, and means driven bysaid motor for moving said frame along said track.

31. In a machine comprising a platform, a drum mounted on said platform,and a cable wound on said drum and extending forwardly therefrom, anupright track supported wholly by said platform and curved forwardlyabout an axis adjacent the point of contact of said cable with saiddrum, said track having side rails provided on their forward edges withteeth, a fairlead comprising a frame and cable guiding sheaves carriedby said frame, rollers carried by said frame and engaging the oppositeedges of the respective side rails, pinions carried by said frame andmeshing with the teeth on said side rails, a motor carried by saidframe, and means driven by said motor for rotating said pinions.

32. In a machine comprising an operating for said cable movable todifferent elevations with relation to said machine, and means for movingsaid fairlead to said different elevations and for tilting said fairleadto properly position the same with relation tosaid cable.

33. In a machine comprising operating mechanism, a device to be operatedat a point remote from said operating mechanism, and a cable forconnecting said part with said operating mecha nism, a fairlead for saidcable movable to different elevations with relation to said machine andcomprising a frame and cable guide elements, and means for guiding saidframe in its movement to said different elevations and forsimultaneously adjusting said guide elements to maintain the same inproper relation to said cable in all positions of said fairlead.

DWIGHT J. SHELTON. BENJAMIN JACOBY. GLEN B. HEFFELFINGER.

